Canadian response to AIDS crisis is shameful and embarrassing
VICTORIA (CUP) — Hundreds of doctors, scientists and policy-makers from around the world descended on Toronto Aug. 13-18 for the 16th International AIDS Conference. This is the single largest conference of its kind in the world, and represents a convergence of the leaders of the fight against the virus.
One prominent expert on the global crisis is Canadian Stephen Lewis. Lewis is the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for AIDS in Africa, and he recently described Canada's response to the crisis as “delinquent beyond delinquency.”
The very scale of the humanitarian disaster leaves Lewis struggling to describe its magnitude — and for good reason. If anyone were to put the vastness of this disaster into words, it would be Stephen Lewis; his inability leads to the conclusion that it is an event the scale of which defies encapsulation in the English language.
There seems little point in trying to render comprehensible the facts and figures that are used to fix the scope of the virus. Instead, why not consider what's not being said about AIDS at the conference.
A good place to start would be with another famous Canadian named Stephen. Unlike Lewis, who is known for his words, Mr. Harper is known for his lack thereof. Particularly noticeable is the Prime Minister's decision not to attend the Toronto conference.
Indeed, not only is the conference attended by the who's who of international health and humanitarian aid community, but top billing this year went to Bill Gates, who recently donated $500 million to the cause, and Bill Clinton, who waived his $200,000 speaking fee. Harper's no-show remains a black mark on Canada's self-styled image as international do-gooders.
Or does it? In a sense, Mr. Harper's decision not to attend a major international humanitarian conference in Toronto is consistent with the views of Canadian politicians and their constituents.
Happy to pay lip service to the importance of this crisis and the urgency with which it must be dealt, Canada has been, well, delinquent, when called to action. The ongoing and consistent pattern of Canadian hypocrisy when confronting the AIDS crisis is shameful and embarrassing.
The numbers speak for themselves. Since the inception of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in 2000, Canada has pledged $100 million US (plus additional aid in Canadian dollars). While this may sound like a significant sum, in global terms it is a pittance. Canada's contribution has been dwarfed by countries such as Spain and the Netherlands, never mind Gates and Canada's G8 cousins.
Our country's contribution has been remarkable only for failing to meet its potential.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
One prominent expert on the global crisis is Canadian Stephen Lewis. Lewis is the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for AIDS in Africa, and he recently described Canada's response to the crisis as “delinquent beyond delinquency.”
The very scale of the humanitarian disaster leaves Lewis struggling to describe its magnitude — and for good reason. If anyone were to put the vastness of this disaster into words, it would be Stephen Lewis; his inability leads to the conclusion that it is an event the scale of which defies encapsulation in the English language.
There seems little point in trying to render comprehensible the facts and figures that are used to fix the scope of the virus. Instead, why not consider what's not being said about AIDS at the conference.
A good place to start would be with another famous Canadian named Stephen. Unlike Lewis, who is known for his words, Mr. Harper is known for his lack thereof. Particularly noticeable is the Prime Minister's decision not to attend the Toronto conference.
Indeed, not only is the conference attended by the who's who of international health and humanitarian aid community, but top billing this year went to Bill Gates, who recently donated $500 million to the cause, and Bill Clinton, who waived his $200,000 speaking fee. Harper's no-show remains a black mark on Canada's self-styled image as international do-gooders.
Or does it? In a sense, Mr. Harper's decision not to attend a major international humanitarian conference in Toronto is consistent with the views of Canadian politicians and their constituents.
Happy to pay lip service to the importance of this crisis and the urgency with which it must be dealt, Canada has been, well, delinquent, when called to action. The ongoing and consistent pattern of Canadian hypocrisy when confronting the AIDS crisis is shameful and embarrassing.
The numbers speak for themselves. Since the inception of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in 2000, Canada has pledged $100 million US (plus additional aid in Canadian dollars). While this may sound like a significant sum, in global terms it is a pittance. Canada's contribution has been dwarfed by countries such as Spain and the Netherlands, never mind Gates and Canada's G8 cousins.
Our country's contribution has been remarkable only for failing to meet its potential.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
